Wednesday, 25 January 2012

New editions, new covers

The summer I was fifteen I went up towards the mountains to Valensole for the lavender harvest. It was Marthe’s idea, she who persuaded our parents to let me go to see for myself how the ridged uplandshad been transformed into purple carpets where the scent was born.

from The Lantern

Two new covers for The Lantern - one for the paperback edition in the US, and one for the Dutch translation - both of which will be available in a matter of weeks. It's always fascinating for authors to see the covers chosen by publishers. Occasionally distressing too, though thankfully that's absolutely not the case with either of these! What is interesting here are the different aspects of the novel the publishers have chosen to emphasize, reflecting not only the book but the current feel and fashion of each home market.

The US version (shown above) is completely changed from the hardback cover, and highlights the book's sensuous involvement with lavender and the sense of place in the French countryside. In the Netherlands, there's greater play on the gothic, personal element.

Everyone wants answers and tidy conclusions, but in life they don’t always materialize. You settle for the best outcome you can manage, and accept that you can’t explain everything. The subconscious mind sometimes makes surreal connections, like the ones in dreams. Tricks of the light were all around. Look how the sun slanted as the sun set in the west, carving blood red clefts in the hills that then turned to black rivulets.

from The Lantern

The Dutch is the first to be published of the many foreign editions for which the rights have been sold. In the coming months, I can't wait to see the different cover designs for the Brazilian, the Italian, the Polish, the Hungarian and many other territories. What fun! What do you think?

15 comments:

Good point about the differences in markets. Novels about European country houses are very popular in the US, so that cover should do well. The Dutch cover is great. I think it really captures the story's essence.

I like the UK/US cover the best, followed by the paperback US cover. I don't know about the Dutch one, with the girl lying prone on aged stone steps. The other two give a real sense of place. Do you have a favourite?

Interesting indeed!A Dutch version, that means i can read it in my own language (flemish) now.(always nice to read a book in its original language, just doubting about my english though)Your book has been on my booklist but i must admit i didn't got me an example just yet, next time i'll visit my local bookstore it will defenitely be there and i will read it finally. I do like the Dutch cover :)xx

What fun to see different versions of the jacket art. I would be drawn to pick up either version if I saw the book on a shelf. I do admit, though, that my preference is for the American, lavender fields one. The Dutch photo is similar in feeling to the very popular vampire type stories so popular these days (gothic, as you say).

About Me

I am a British novelist and sometime journalist. I've loved Provence ever since I first visited more years ago than I care to remember.
My husband and I have a crumbling house in the Luberon, and it is the setting and inspiration for my novel The Lantern, published by Orion in the UK and HarperCollins in the US.
Apart from books, this blog is for all things inspired by the South of France. The original idea was that by the time The Lantern was published, it would contain an archive of relevant background material and photographs to illustrate the story. The Sea Garden was published in summer 2014, and my new novel 300 Days of Sun is out now.